pot
UK[pɒt]US[pɑːt]
n
A deep, round container used for cooking food or holding things like plants or paint.
n
The total amount of money bet in a card game or other gambling activity.
v
To plant something in a pot.
v
To hit or shoot a ball into a pocket or hole, especially in billiards or golf.
Etymology
The word 'pot' has a direct and ancient lineage, originating from the Old English 'pott', which referred to a drinking vessel or container. This term was likely borrowed from Late Latin 'pottus', a word of uncertain origin, though it may have Vulgar Latin or pre-Latin roots. The core concept of a rounded, man-made container has remained remarkably stable throughout its journey into Middle English and modern usage. Its semantic expansion to include meanings like 'a pot of money' or 'to pot a plant' all logically extend from this central, concrete image of a vessel holding contents.
Analysis
This is a simplex word. It is a short, basic Germanic root whose form has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Its functional role is as a free morpheme, a complete word in itself.
Examples
She filled the pot with water to boil pasta.
He won the entire pot with a royal flush.
I need to pot this seedling before its roots get too crowded.